I am not a poet Or a woman of letters Not talented or gifted I just go through enormous pain Poems are the painkiller Poems are the band-aid Poems are the antidepressant Poems are my companion Poems hold my hand Poems hug me real tight Poems never leave me alone Poems sleep with me And wake up with me Poems fill my heart Poems feed me Poems satisfy my thirst Poems love me I put my head on a poet’s lap And he caresses my hair